Approximately seven years ago, a group of Jones Tabernacle members embarked upon the journey of researching the life of Bishop Joshua Henry Jones, the church’s namesake and the 38th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. To these members, Bishop Jones had seemed a very mystical, almost surreal figure. His handsome portrait had graced the church’s walls since its beginning, however almost no specific details of his life were available, save brief biographical information in various A.M.E. publications. The group’s goal was established and summarized in the form of a question: Who is Bishop Joshua Henry Jones?

The group became the Jones Tabernacle Historical Commission. Its first order of business was to contact the A.M.E. Church historiographer, the Rev. Dr. Dennis Dickerson. Through many telephone conversations, letters and e-mail, the Commission learned that there were members of the church and others in the state who were relatives and direct descendents of Bishop Jones. Next, extensive research at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration was undertaken. Here, the Commission was able to obtain census and land records. Because Bishop Jones was a native of South Carolina and had lived in various towns and cities throughout this state, contact was made with the Bureau of Vital Records and other local historical agencies and societies. The Commission also contacted the colleges and universities which he attended. At this point, his life was starting to take on new life!

It was later learned that the Bishop had four children, and a wife who preceded him in death. But who were the children? Where did they live? Did they have children? Were they African Methodists? These new paths led the Commission to the discovery of various living descendents of the Bishop! For sharing in this ultimate goal, the Commission is forever indebted to various descendents of Bishop Jones including Gloria Jones, Stacey Jones Anderson, Edwin Robinson, Donald Jones, Sr., Deborah Wolfe Arsenault, Tom and Peggy Wolfe, Wilfred Morette, and Rev. Bill Wolfe.

The Jones Tabernacle Historical Commission is comprised of Joan Garrett, Susie Gaddy, Maefiled Inabinet, Kevin Lamb, Ty Kelley-Lamb, Barnel Louden, Rev. Ellis Louden, Lois Norris, and James Slaughter.

Please visit the pages of The Bishop Joshua Henry Jones Genealogy Project to learn of the man, the mission, and his service to our God!

In Christ,
The Jones Tabernacle Historical Commission